Summerishere!

The season’s days are numbered, so don’t let them go to waste! There are plenty of ways to enjoy the Great Outdoors, but what can be more fun than outdoor art projects?

Outdoor art is great for kids (a great way to avoid a messy house) but the following projects can be fun for adults too. Grab some snacks, and maybe an old blanket to relax on, and head to the yard or the nearest park to enjoy these fun summer pastimes!

Make a mural.

Rummage the hall closet for an old white sheet, or pick up something heavier at a fabric store. Rig up a clothesline and hang the sheet or fabric with clothespins. Voila! You've got yourself a canvas. Get some acrylic paints, or if everyone in the party is old enough, spray paint works wonderfully as well. Next, release your inner Picasso.

You can also try a different variation of this same project using a clear plastic shower curtain. Regular acrylic paint works best for this one. The transparency of the material gives the art a stained glass look, great for later hanging in front of a window or any place the light can shine behind it.

Build a fort.

This is a great project if you’re needing a use for old empty cardboard boxes. You could recycle them, or you could make a yard fort instead. Assemble them any way you like, making cuts for windows and doors. Get some paint and decorate the day away.

Paint the sidewalk.

This can be really fun and you can even make the paint yourself. All you need is vinegar and baking soda and you have yourself some Fizzing Sidewalk Paint. While also non-toxic, it gives the art something more than two dimensions.

Some say art is for the birds.

Find a recipe online for making home-cooked birdseed. (You’ll need something to make the seeds stick together.) You can make different shapes with the bird food using cookie cutters, and then string them up with ribbon. Hang them on a tree and you’ll be sure to make some avian friends.

Set it in stone.

Immortalize your kids’ favorite toys and trinkets (or maybe some of your own childhood treasures) with this cool art project. Pick up some Easy Mold Silicone Putty and use a spoon to spread it in a tin, about a quarter of an inch thick. Press the object(s) into the surface and let it dry overnight. Then punch holes in the tin and string with ribbon or yarn to hang the display.

Tie dye.

Collect some old white T-shirts, ones that are 100% cotton tend to work best. You can buy a tie dye kit at most craft stores. You will need some buckets, but everything else will be provided in the kit.

Papier-maché sculptures.

There are different recipes to use for making papier-maché. You may need a type of glue, or just flour and water. And of course, some newspapers. You can get creative with all sorts of sculptures or masks.Plaster Cloth Rolls also work very well. If you get really into it, you can even try making your own piñata, a great activity for a summer birthday celebration.

When it comes to making art outdoors, the options are endless! Simple sketching, finger painting, and chalk drawings are great for outside. Or just put some paper on a table and let loose with some paints. It might get a little messy, but that’s just par for the course.

What are your creative plans for this summer? How will you have some artsy fun in the sun? Tell us all about it in the comments below!